Hilary Henkin
Encyclopedia
Hilary Henkin is an American screenwriter and producer, nominated for both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award for her work on the screenplay of Wag the Dog
in 1997.
and raised in Memphis
, Tennessee
and New York City
. She attended the University of Lausanne
in Switzerland
.
Given the close relationship between Barry Levinson
and David Mamet
, who had been hired to rewrite Henkin's screenplay for Wag the Dog after Levinson became attached as director, New Line Cinema originally asked that Mamet be given sole screenplay credit; but the Writers Guild of America intervened on Henkin's behalf to assure that Henkin received first-position shared screenplay credit as the original screenwriter and creator of its structure, which she loosely adapted from Larry Beinhart
's novel American Hero, as well as much of the story and dialogue.
Other produced screenplays include V for Vendetta
(2006) (uncredited), Romeo Is Bleeding
(1993), Road House
(1989), Lost Angels (1989) (uncredited), Fatal Beauty
(1987), Flowers in the Attic
(1987), Blue Heaven (1985), Prisoners (1981), and Headin' for Broadway (1980).
She was also producer of Romeo is Bleeding.
Wag the Dog
Wag the Dog is a 1997 black comedy film starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro, co-starring Anne Heche, Denis Leary and William H. Macy about a Washington spin doctor who, merely days before a presidential election, distracts the electorate from a sex scandal by hiring a Hollywood film producer...
in 1997.
Biography
Henkin was born in New Orleans, LouisianaLouisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
and raised in Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
, Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
and New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. She attended the University of Lausanne
University of Lausanne
The University of Lausanne in Lausanne, Switzerland was founded in 1537 as a school of theology, before being made a university in 1890. Today about 12,000 students and 2200 researchers study and work at the university...
in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
.
Given the close relationship between Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson
Barry Levinson is an American screenwriter, film director, actor, and producer of film and television. His films include Good Morning, Vietnam, Sleepers and Rain Man.-Early life:...
and David Mamet
David Mamet
David Alan Mamet is an American playwright, essayist, screenwriter and film director.Best known as a playwright, Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize and received a Tony nomination for Glengarry Glen Ross . He also received a Tony nomination for Speed-the-Plow . As a screenwriter, he received Oscar...
, who had been hired to rewrite Henkin's screenplay for Wag the Dog after Levinson became attached as director, New Line Cinema originally asked that Mamet be given sole screenplay credit; but the Writers Guild of America intervened on Henkin's behalf to assure that Henkin received first-position shared screenplay credit as the original screenwriter and creator of its structure, which she loosely adapted from Larry Beinhart
Larry Beinhart
Larry Beinhart is an American author. He is best known as the author of the political and detective novel American Hero, which was adapted for the political-parody film Wag the Dog. Directed by Barry Levinson, it starred Dustin Hoffman, Robert De Niro, Anne Heche, William H...
's novel American Hero, as well as much of the story and dialogue.
Other produced screenplays include V for Vendetta
V for Vendetta (film)
V for Vendetta is a 2005 dystopian thriller film directed by James McTeigue and produced by Joel Silver and the Wachowski brothers, who also wrote the screenplay. It is an adaptation of the V for Vendetta comic book by Alan Moore and David Lloyd...
(2006) (uncredited), Romeo Is Bleeding
Romeo Is Bleeding
Romeo Is Bleeding is a darkly comic 1993 crime film starring Gary Oldman and Lena Olin, directed by Peter Medak. The film's title was taken from a song by Tom Waits....
(1993), Road House
Road House (1989 film)
Road House is a 1989 American action film partially based on the life of Norman "Storm" Cantwell, directed by Rowdy Herrington and starring Patrick Swayze as a bouncer at a newly-refurbished roadside bar who protects a small town in Missouri from a corrupt businessman. Sam Elliot also plays a...
(1989), Lost Angels (1989) (uncredited), Fatal Beauty
Fatal Beauty
Fatal Beauty is a 1987 American action film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Sam Elliott, directed by Tom Holland. The screenplay was written by Hilary Henkin and Dean Riesner. The original music score was composed by Harold Faltermeyer, of Top Gun fame. The film was marketed with the tagline "An...
(1987), Flowers in the Attic
Flowers in the Attic (film)
Flowers in the Attic is a 1987 horror film starring Louise Fletcher, Victoria Tennant, Kristy Swanson, and Jeb Stuart Adams. It is based on the 1979 novel of the same name by V. C. Andrews...
(1987), Blue Heaven (1985), Prisoners (1981), and Headin' for Broadway (1980).
She was also producer of Romeo is Bleeding.